Thomas Nast loved Christmas and was inspired by Clement Moore’s poem “’Twas the Night Before Christmas.” Moore, a biblical scholar at the Episcopal seminary in New York City, wrote the poem for his children as a Christmas gift in 1822. The poem was first published a year later in the Troy Sentinel and began with the famous words, “’Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house / Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;”

Santa Claus and His Magical Reindeer

In his drawings, Nast portrayed Santa Claus as Moore described him in his poem as a round-bellied white bearded man of “good cheer.” Nast also drew Santa riding around on Christmas Eve, distributing toys to good little girls and boys in a sleigh pulled by eight magical reindeer—Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen.

Naughty or Nice

To Moore’s Santa Claus, Nast added a red suit trimmed in white fur and a workshop at the North Pole. The North Pole was an isolated place where Santa Claus could work without interruption. From the North Pole, Nast drew Santa Claus watching children through his telescope to see if they were being naughty or nice.

Letters for Santa Claus

Then he showed Santa Claus documenting their behaviors in his account book. Nast also originated the idea that children could send Santa Claus mail at the North Pole and he read all their letters.